Top 5 Music Icons of All Time

Michael Jackson is voted the greatest music icon ever in an online poll carried by CNN’s new art and culture show in conjunction with music magazine Songlines. People were asked to vote for their top five most iconic musicians of all time. Almost 100,000 people participated in the poll.

No female artists made the list, although U.S. pop queen, Madonna came in at number six, narrowly missing a place. Here’s the list of top 5 global music icons of all times.

1. Michael Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009)

Michael Jackson rose to fame with Thriller in 1982 that went to become the best selling album of all time. His other records, including Off the Wall (1979), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991) and History (1995), also rank among the world's best-selling.

Major Awards and Recognition

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – twice

Guinness World Records – multiple

Grammy Awards – 13 times

Grammy Legend Award

Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

Estimated sale of 800 million records worldwide

2. The Beatles (1957 – 1969)

An English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960 has been one of the most popular commercially successful and critically acclaimed musical group in the history.

The band consisted of John Lennon (rhythm guitar, vocals), Paul McCartney (bass guitar, vocals), George Harrison (lead guitar, vocals) and Ringo Starr (drums, vocals).

Started with rock and roll in 1960, the group later worked in many genres, such as pop ballads, psychedelic rock, often incorporating classical and other forms.

3. Leslie Cheung (12 September 1956 – 1 April 2003)

Leslie Cheung Kwok-Wing nicknamed "Elder Brother" was a film actor and musician from Hong Kong. Cheung was considered as "one of the founding fathers of Cantopop", and has had a hugely successful film and music career.

In 2000, Cheung was named Asian Biggest Superstar by China Central Television, and voted/ranked the 1st as The Most Favorite Actor

in 100 Years of Chinese Cinema in 2005.

4. Elvis Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977)

Elvis Aaron Presleya was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. He is popularily known by his single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King".

5. Bob Marley (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981)

Robert Nesta aka "Bob" Marley was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician. He was the rhythm guitarist and lead singer for the ska, rocksteady and reggae bands The Wailers (1964–1974) and Bob Marley & The Wailers (1974–1981). Marley remains the most widely known and revered performer of reggae music.

Marley's best known hits include "I Shot the Sheriff", "No Woman, No Cry", "Could You Be Loved", "Stir It Up", "Jamming", "Redemption Song", "One Love" and, together with The Wailers, "Three Little Birds",[2] as well as the posthumous releases "Buffalo Soldier" and "Iron Lion Zion". The compilation album, Legend (1984), released three years after his death, is regarded his best-selling album.